Casting apparatus



Oct. 23, 1928.

8 1,688,928 B. L. HOOPER CASTING APPARATUS Filed May 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Oct. 23,1928. 1,688,928

B. L. HOOPER CASTING APPARATUS Filed May a, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuznkoz,

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Patented got. 23, 11923 l firlldhl l @FFlQ-E BERT L. HOOPER, 0F LINCQLN, NEBRASKA.

CASTING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 5,

This invention relates to a casting apparatus particularly useful in the practice of dentistry, and specifically relates to an apparatus by its use of which metallic bases or films for the teeth may be produced,

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus for the use of dentists whereby films or bases may be produced which will be of perfect form.

The object of the invention, broadly, i to provide an apparatus for the use of dentists or others, having such a construct-ion that castings may be produced of more perfec form than ordinary, and that pockets or perforations in castings may be eliminated.

Another objectis to provide an apparatu. for the purposes mentioned which will consist of few and simple parts, will be conve ient in use and may be manufactured practic: ly and at a limited expense.

The invention includes an apparatus of such construction and arrangement of parts that the swinging movements required for casting will be limited to a single vertical plane so that the parts will occupy a limited space and will. not be obtrusive in operation.

l Vith the foreging objects in view the invention presents a novel and useful construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being understood that changes may be made in form, size, proportion and minor details without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, said changes being determined by the scopeof the invention as claimed.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a frontview of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a sectional view an investment or crucible for a casting. Fig. 8 is a side view of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings for a mo e particular description, numeral 4 indicates a standard having a horizontal extension 5 and provided with a base 6 and the standard ma; be secured in a vertical position upon a support.

Upon the end of the horizontal extension 5 is secured an annular bearing-member or miter-gear 9 and said gear 9, centrally thereof, is provided with a pivot-pin 10. Numeral 11 indicates an operating lever which is ournalled midway between its ends on the pivot- 1927. Serial No. 188 937.

pin 10. One of the ends of the operating lever is provided with a sleeve 12 and its opposite 5 end is provided with a handle 13.

Also the lever is provided with'an aperture 14 between its sleeve and its pivotal mounting on the pivot-pin 10.

Numeral 15 indicates a spindle provided at its outer end with a holder-frame 16, its inner end being provided with an annular bearingmeinber or miter-gear 17. The spindle is disposed in the sleeve 12 and its gear 17 is disposed in the aperture 1% of the operating lever the teeth a of the miter-gear 1 being in engagement with the teeth 6 of the stationary miter-gear 9.

lVhile l have shown gears 9 and 17 provided with teeth and prefer their use, it is obvious that gears having no teeth operating in engagement as annular bearing-members would perform all functions of the toothed gears and I may use annular bearing-members or gears devoid of teeth if desired.

As thus described it will be seen that by use of the handle 13, an operator may cause the lever, together with the frame 16, to swing circularly upon the pivot-pin upon which the operating lever is mounted. Also it will be seen that the miter-gear 17 together with its spindle and the frame 16 will be rotated coincidently with the movements of the lever since the teeth a are in engagement with the teeth 7) of the stationary gear 9, the circular movement of the lever 11 being at right-angles to the circular movement of the frame 16.

Numeral 18 indicates an investment or crucible of ordinary form generally used by dentists, said crucible being provided with a mol l 19, containing the wax impression, a recess 20 opening on its top and a passageway 21 leading from the recess to the mold. Since the invention does not include the crucible 18 no explanation is required relating thereto except to state that metal may be placed in the recess and, by exposure to heat, will move in melted form through the passageway into the mold to form the base or film upon which the teeth may be afterward mounted.

It will be understood that the thickness of the base or film, if constructed of gold, corresponds to the thickness of heavy writing paper or very thin card board.

Also it will be understood that the mold must be completely filled with the metal and been to cause a circular movement of the cruci-' that pockets or perforations must not be formed in this metallic base or film during the operation of casting.

In dentistry, the practice heretofore, has

ble so that, by centrifugal force, the melted metal will move outwardly from its center of movement to cause the mold to be filled.

However, since the mold is not of flat form but is of irregular shape, perforations and pockets are often formed, the result of this objectionable operation being additional expense of production loss of time.

By use of the present invention the mold will be completely filled for the reason that two centrifugal forces are coincidently em ployed, the circular movement of the operating lever causing the molten metal to move outwardly from the pivotal mounting-j of said lever, and the circular movement of the spindle 15 causing the molten metal to move, by centrifugal force, outwardly toward the ends of the mold regardless of its irregular form, the two centrifugal forces operating coincidently and one of said forces directing stresses at right-angles to the other force.

The operation of the apparatus is very simple. After the crucible 18 has been placed in the holder or frame 16 it is secured therein by keepers 2:2. The gold or other metal is placed in the recess 20. The metal and crucible 18 are then subjected to heat by use of 21 blow-torch or other suitable means until the metal is melted and moves down through the passageway 21 to the mold 19. The melted metal will cause the wax in the mold to be consumed, and by use of the handle 13 the melted metal in the mold 19 will be moved by the two centrifugal forces in the manner and for the purposes described.

I claim as my invention,-

1. A centrifugal casting machine comprising a standard support having an angular arm, a fixed gear wheel on said angular arm, a frame pivoted coaxially of said gear wheel to rotate in a substantially vertical plane, a mold holder carried to revolve with said frame and mounted to rotate about its own axis, a pinion fixed to the mold holder and enmeshed with said fixed gear wheel, and a handle on the frame opposite the mold holder.

2. A centrifugal casting machine comprising a support, a fixed gear wheel thereon, a frame pivoted on the support coaxially of the gear wheel to rotate in a substantially vertical plane, a mold holder carried to revolve with said frame and mounted to rotate in the frame about its own vertical axis, a pinion fixed to the mold holder and enmeshed with said fixed gear wheel, and a handle directly on the frame diametrically opposed to said mold holder.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature.

BERT L. HOOPER. 

